Slipper



April 8, 1958 s A, M|NERA 2,829,448

SLIPPER Filed N0v 8' 1954 l 1 TOR.

ATTORNEYS step of placing the foot on the sole.

SLIPPER VSalvador A.. Minera, San Francisco, Calif. Application November 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,318 6 claims. (ci. srt-58.5)

This invention relates to Aa slipper for each `foot of a person, and has for its main object the provision of a slipper that is adapted to automatically engage and to be held onto the foot ofa person upon such person placing the foot on the sole of such slipper without the necessity for such person carefully slipping the foot into the slipper in order to prevent breaking down the heel engaging portion. In sandals and the like that merely have a band, straps, or a toe receiving portion, the sandals many times accidentally Vfall from the feet due to the fact that there is virtually'rnothing lto holdkv them on except the forward shuling movement of the feet in walking, and in most instances, the wearer must lift the strap, band or toe portion in order to insert the foot therebelow. This is inconvenient, particularly where the ap or foot engaging portion has been attened against the sole.

With the present invention, the sole of the slipper is exposed substantially from the toe to the heel when the slipper is off the foot, and there is no opstanding heel engaging member that is apt to be crushed down in the However, means are provided engaging the heelof the wearer and for extending over the instep portionof thev wearer after the foot is on the sole and the weight of the wearer is placed on such sole, and thereafter the slipper will be securely held on the foot until the heel engaging means is pushed downwardly to permit retraction of the foot. `At the same time, the downward movement of the heel engaging means will enable the arch engaging means to open up so that the foot need not be retracted from the slipper but can be lifted off the sole, and with the weight of the person off the sole, the heel and instep engaging means can again be releaseably held in open position until the person wishes to again use the slipper.

Persons awakened out of a sleep by the telephone, doorbell or for any other cause, usually are not as alert in their actions as when wide awake, hence they can easily and quickly t the slippers of this invention onto their feet with the minimum amount of thinking. Also, where the slippers are of water proof material, the slippers can be quickly secured to the feet after taking a shower and without stooping over to arrange straps, Vamps, etc. Furthermore, elderly persons or persons that cannot stoop over to arrange the slippers before placing them on the feet, have no vdiflculty. in firmly securing the present slippers onto the feet, or in removing them, without stooping over.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and-in the claims. v

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top plan View of a slipper in closed position, or in the position when on a foot. t

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the slipper of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the slipper of Fig. 1 partially broken away and with the upper spread to show internal structure the amount of the opening shown being approximately the normal amount when the heel encircling portion is pushed down to a position about even with the top of the insole.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showing details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5, but with the mechanism operated to release the lock.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a slightly different structure than is shown in Figs. 3, 4.

In detail, the sole 1 of the slipper is a full sole adapted ,to extend below the foot of the wearer from heel to toe and when made of wood or relatively inflexible material,

' the toe portion that extends below the ball of the foot or close to the juncture between the toes and foot at about the metatarsal arch, may be formed with cross grooves 2 (Fig. 2) to permit flexing of the sole when a flexible insole or top sole 3 is secured to the main sole.

A U-shaped relatively rigid member 4, that may be covered with any suitable material, provides a pair of legs 5 and a closed end 6. The ends of said legs 5 that are opposite to said closed end are turned inwardly toward each other and pivo'tally extend through a pair of plates 8 (Fig. 4) that are secured to the opposite sides of the shank portion 9 of the sole.

An extension 10 of the member 4 may extend across the said shank section 9 in a transverse groove or recess made for it. This extension 10 thus lies below the level of the insole 3 and therefore is not felt by a foot on said sole.

Hingedly secured to each plate 8 is an elongated instep engaging element 11 that may be in the form of a at or substantially at strip. The elements 11 are substantially identical and have their at sides in opposed relation when they extend upwardly from their hinged connections to said plates 8, but their upper end portions are curved toward each other to generally conform to the transverse curvature or contour` of the upper side of the instep portion of a foot.

An elastic web 12 connects each element 11 with the leg 5 of'member 4 that is adjacent thereto, and a flexible heel covering piece 13 may connect the closed end 6 of the member 4 with the heel end of the sole to limit the upward movement of said member 4 if desired, although this limiting movement could be regulated by the tension of the web 12. When the member 4 is at its maximum height as seen in Fig. 2 and when elements 11 are over the instep of the foot, the webs 12 are preferably under slight tension. As seen in Fig. l, the upper ends of members 11 extend slightly toward each other from the pivots at their lower ends, therefore said upper ends must in their opening movement swing slightly upwardly upon moving apart before swinging downwardly again to open position, therefore there is a center of maximum tension on the webs 12 that is passed at substantially the'highest point in the swing of each element 11. After these points of maximum tension are passed the webs 12 will automatically function to swing the elements 11 toward each other and into snug engagement with the instep vof the foot, or will swing them away from each other, according to the direction in which the elements are being moved. Obviously elements 11 must be free `to be swung apart in order to be moved toward the y position shown in Fig. 3 as will later be explained.

Where the heel piece 13 is used, it will automatically fold outwardly when the member 4 is swung downwardly, The forward ends of the legs 5 of memberf4 are positioned, as seen in Fig. 4, to swing upwardly and over the outer sides of the portions 15 of elements 11, thus the tension of webs 12 that causes the member 4 to swing upwardly when the member 4 is released, will be transmitted to the outer sides of the portions 15 of elements 11 to cause the latter to swing past the points l of-.maximum tension, mentioned above, so `that elements .lltwillbe moved bypwebs 12 to closed position over the instep of a foot on thesole of the slipper, and when saidv forward `ends of the legs extend over the portions 15-l on the lower ends ofthe `elements 11, the .latter will be positively locked by saidlforrward ends of legs 5 against swinging to open position. Only a downward movement of the member 4 will release the elements 11 forfmoving to open position.

The downward Vmovement of the member 4 may be easily accomplished byV-the user pushing downwardly on the closed end 6 of member 4 by the toe of the other foot, and when `such downward pressure is applied, the tension f the webswZ will .build up until the forward ends of'legsS areifree from holding relation to the lower endportionsdl of elements 11, and at that time when the instep of the foot on the slipper is elevated in the normal act of stepping out of the slipper, the upper ends of elements 11 will be moved yapart under the force of said instep there'ag'ainst, arid said upper ends will pass saidzp'oints 'of maximum resistance, 'or centers, and the webs'will' then quicklysw'ing the upper nds'of elements 11ap`artfto ope'nposition. l

In 'the presentinstarice, ythe effecto'f legs `5 moving i upwardly against portions 15 of elements `1`1, "plus the slight inertia inelements 11 due tothe suddenrelease of legs 5 from locked,'depresse'd position, is adequate to move elements 11 past their'centers or 'points of maximum resistance to the. positions shown in Fig` l, while the upward force of'theinstepof the foot 'in the normal act of 'stepping out of the slipper is adequate to move the elements 11 past their centers or.points of maximum resistance 4from the position of Fig. l toward the open position indicated in Fig. 3. Obviously the member 4 must lirst be depressed `to unlock lthe elements 11lto 'permit their movement toward the open position and this willbuild u'p a tension in webs 12.

The extension `10 *of each member 4 is` virtually `a cross rod rthat is rigid with the legs 5 of member 4, and this cross rod has a lug A16 (Figs. 4 to 6) rigid therewith at a point intermediate the ends `of cross rod 10, and which lug projects radially from said cross rod.

A verticallyfswinging latch or leaf 417 is horizontally pivoted to -a plate `18 that, in turn, is secured to the sole 1, said plate being l'counters'unkfin sole 1 below the insole 3 lin order `n'o'tto be felt by the foot.

When the weight of a foot is on the insole 3 after 'complete insertion thereof, the leaf 17 will be released to enable member 4 and elements l11 to move to positions securely holding the slipper onto the foot.

Toe covering portions ofany suitable flexible material may extend forwardly from the elements 11 to the toe end of thesole and to the side edges of said sole, but these portions 25 are separable along a central line extending longitudinally of the slipper to expose the sole substantially to the toe of the latter when the elcments 11 are swung apart. It is pertinent to note that the covering 25 over the toe cap 26 (Fig. 3) that is at the toe end of the sole, is not absolutely essential to holding the slipper onto the foot, the split 27 (Fig. l) could extend to the sole at toe end if desired, but it is preferable that a toe cap be used where the portions 25 are used so as to elevate the covering portions 25 at the toe end of the slipper for comfort of the toes. v

It is also equallyobvious that a so called zipper lorhookless `fastener could be used along the split 27 if desired.

If desired, a torsion spring 30 could be placed on the cross rod`10 (Fig. 7) rinstead of using stretchable elastic webs 12 to cas'ethe member 4 yto move to elevated position, although a connection similar to the webs 12 `should preferably connect the member 4 with Aelements 11 to cause the latter to automatically move apart after member 4 is 4swung downwardly and after the slight upward movement'of thei'instep of the foot. to movethe upper ends of elements 11 slightly apart, as hasheretofore beenexplained. Such'a 'spring could be used in addition to a flexible connectionbetween member 4 and elements 11, or the elements 11 could be leaf 'springs The outeredge 'i of leaf 17 opposite toits pivot is adapted to engage lthe orderto hold `the cross -rod 10 against rotation in a direction that will enable `the member 4 to swing upl wardly. Y

A spring20 '(Fig. 5) is positioned below the leaf 17 to yieldably holdthe leaf elevated, and in a position locking the cross rod 10 against rotation in a direction permitting the member '4to swing upwardly. However, upon pressing'the leaf 17downwardly upon insertion of the foot, the latter will move to a position (Fig. f6) freeing lug 16 and then the tension of webs 12 `will immediately cause the member 4 and elements 11 to swing to closed position.

Below the flexible insole 3 at the shank rportion of the sole where the insole extends across the leaf 17 (Fig..k5), is an upwardly bowed leaf spring 21 that carriesa button 22 on its lower side. This button 22 is the spring is free (belowinsole 3) to pei-mitra downward pressure on the insole over said spring to move the spring and button `22 downwardly so that the leaf 16 will be released ymerely by the pressure of the foot on'the portion of the insole 3 that extends over the spring 21.

pretensioned to spread apart 'when the'forward ends of legs 5 freedt'he said springs for such movement. Of course, the pivots between plates 8f and the elements 11 would be superfluous where the resiliency of elements 11 were relied upon to cause them to move apart.

`In referring to the instep of the foot, this is the portion from the toes to the ankle since it is obvious that the positions of members 1'1'can be varied, somewhat, and'be closer to the toes than is shown.

l claim:

l. In a slipper including a sole having a heel portion, a U-shaped member providing a pair'of spaced legs and a closed end,`said member being swingably connected at the ends of said legs that are remote from said closed end tos'aid-sole v`at opposite sides lof the latter a'nd at points `intermediate the ends of said sole, said member being movable about ysaid remote ends from a lowered positionadjacent 'to said heel portion to an elevated position above said heel portion for holding a foot against rearward withdrawal of said foot from said sole when said clesed end is in said elevated position, means for yieldably urging said member to said elevated position and means for releasably holding said member in said 'lowered position, instep 'engaging means connected with said sole movable from a position extending to one side of the upwardly projected area above said sole to an instep-engaging `position extending over the upper side of such foot at substantially its instep and vice versa, and means connecting said instep engaging means with said member. for movement of said instep engaging means to its said instep engaging position upon movement of 'said member to its said elevated position.

2, In a slipper including a sole having a heel portion, a U-shaped member providing a pair of spaced legs and a closed end, said member .being swingably connected at the ends of said legs that are remote from said closed end `to said sole at opposite sides of the latter and at points intermediate the ends of said sole, said member being movable about said Vremote ends from a lowered position adjacent to said heel portion to an elevated position above said heel portion for holding a foot against raam/ard withdrawal ofsaid Foot from said sole when said closed end is in said elevated position, means for yieldably urging said member to said elevated position and means for releasably holding said member in said lowered position, instepv engaging means at opposite sides of said sole swingably connected with said sole for movement from open position at opposite sides of the upwardly projected area above said sole to closed positions extending over said sole and over substantially the instep portion of a foot on said sole and vice versa, and means including a portion of said member engageable with said instep engaging means when said member is in said elevated position for locking said instep engaging means in said closed position.

3. In a slipper having a sole adapted to support the foot of a person thereon and to extend from the toe to the heel of said foot; heel engaging means secured to said sole for movement from an elevated position extending behind said heel of said foot when said foot is on said sole to a lowered position substantially even with the upper surface of said sole and vice versa, means for yieldably holding said heel engaging means in said elevated position, and means for releasably holding said heel engaging means in said lowered position, instep engaging means secured to said sole for movement from an elevated closed position extending over the arch portion of a foot positioned on said sole and over said sole to an open position at opposite sides of such foot and said sole and vice versa, and means for releasably holding said instep engaging means in said open position and in said closed position respectively.

4. In a slipper having a sole adapted to support the foot of a person thereon and to extend from the toe to the heel of said foot, instep engaging means connected with said sole for movement from an elevated position extending over the instep portion of said foot to an open position extending to opposite sides of said sole and means carried by said sole and engageable with said instep engaging means for holding said instep engaging means in said open position.

5. in a slipper having a sole adapted to support the foot of a person thereon and to extend from the toe to the heel of said foot, instep engaging means connected with said sole for movement from an eievated position extending over the instep portion of said foot to an open position extending to opposite sides of said sole and means carried by said sole and engageable with said instep engaging means for holding said instep engaging means in said open position, means connected with said instep engaging means and with said sole for moving said last mentioned means to said instep engaging position and for holding said instep engaging means in said instep engaging position.

6. in a slipper having a sole adapted to support the foot of a person thereon and to extend from the toe to the heel of said foot, instep engaging means connected with said sole for movement from an elevated position extending over the instep portion ot` said foot to an open position extending to opposite sides of said sole and means carried by said soie and engageable with said instep engaging means for holding said instep en- 2,736,110 Hardimon Feb. 28, i956 Read oet. 2, 192s 

